Confinement or movement of an object using focused ultrasound waves to generate an ultrasound intensity well
US11580945B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 10, 2020 |
| Grant date | Feb 14, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 28, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2017/22028
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method includes transmitting a focused ultrasound wave into a medium to form (i) an ultrasound intensity well within the medium that exhibits a first range of acoustic pressure and (ii) a surrounding region of the medium that surrounds the ultrasound intensity well and exhibits a second range of acoustic pressure that exceeds the first range of acoustic pressure. The method further includes confining an object within the ultrasound intensity well. Additionally, an acoustic lens is configured to be acoustically coupled to an acoustic transducer. The acoustic lens has a varying longitudinal thickness that increases proportionally with respect to increasing azimuth angle of the acoustic lens. Another acoustic lens is configured to be acoustically coupled to an acoustic transducer. The acoustic lens includes a plurality of segments. Each of the plurality of segments has a varying longitudinal thickness that increases proportionally with respect to increasing azimuth angle of the segment.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.